Costa Rica, the lovely country in tropical central America. 19,652 miles of lush tropics that consist of one of the tourist spots of the century! Throughout this page, you will learn about the wonders of this ancient land and its culture, people, and beautiful beaches.
COUNTRY INFO
BEACHES
One of Costa Rica's most famous attractions is its beaches. Costa Rica goes from coast to coast so it therefore has 762 miles of beach! Although quality is more important that quantity. The beaches of Costa Rica for having crystal clear water and bleach white sand as well as the warm sun all year round. Due to it's geographical location, Costa Rica makes a great location to vacation all year round! Even in your not up for beaches, there is much more in Costa Rica than it's tropical perimeter. Let's head deeper inside.
RAIN FORESTS & JUNGLES
Costa Rica also also has some of the most exotic jungles and river ways throughout its lush lands. Not only are these dense forests good for exploring, hiking, and even zip lining throughout the tress, they are also the home to many tropical animals. Hidden in this tropical world live about 800 species of birds including over 50 species of hummingbird. There are 4 species of monkey, and even some species of jaguar; not to mention a whole range of colorful frogs! If you are lucky, and with a knowledgeable guide, you could see animals that very few humans have ever seen.
CITIES & URBAN LIFE
Just in case you aren't up for the beaches or the dense jungles, Costa Rica has large cities in which to ramble the street and make friends with the friendly local people. When coming into the city, it will be helpful to have a little money. Costa Rica's currency is the colon. It's about 507 colon to every one U.S. Dollar. Also, when in Costa Rica there are certain things you might want to try. Do you ever wonder where you get you fruit during the winter time? The answer is often Costa Rica. When in Costa Rica, you should buy fresh coffee from locally grown coffee beans, recently picked bananas or some tropical pineapples. These are some of the best income suppliers for the country. Also, with a population of over 4,640,000, chances are you will make some friends in the local coffee shops, just make sure that you touch up on your Spanish. Although you may find English speakers, the majority of people speak Spanish. Also in the city, because the majority of Puerto Ricans are Roman Christian, there are beautiful churches and Cathedrals. Costa Rica is a presidential represented democratic republic. The current president is Laura Chinchilla Miranda. Maybe if your lucky in San Jose you might see here.
FOOD AND DINING
Costa Rican traditional foods include: Carne Asada, Arroz con Pollo, and casado, a typical dish made of chicken in sauce, next to rice, black or red beans, fried ripe plantain, salad, and mashed potatoes. This is a local recipe:
Gallo Pinto
1 lb (450 gr.) Black beans. Fresh are best but most likely you’ll find them dried.
8-10 sprigs cilantro (coriander leaf) fresh or frozen, not dried!
1 small or medium onion
½ small red or yellow sweet pepper (optional)
3 cups (700 ml) chicken broth or water
2 cups (350 ml) white rice
½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
1 Tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
1-3 Tablespoon oil to fry the Gallo Pinto
If beans are dried, cover with water and soak overnight, if they are fresh, just rise them off. Drain the beans and add fresh water to an inch (2.5-cm) above the top of the beans, salt, and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and reduce heat to very low simmer until beans are soft (~3 hours).
Chop cilantro, onion, and sweet pepper very fine.
Add 1 Tablespoon oil to a large pan and sauté the dry rice for 2 minutes over medium high flame then add half of the chopped onion, sweet pepper and cilantro and sauté another 2 minutes. Add water or chicken broth, bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer until rice is tender (20-35 minutes). This is also the recipe for Tico rice used in other favorites like tamales.
Once the rice and beans are cooked you can refrigerate or freeze them. Keep a significant amount of the “black water” with the beans (½-1 cup 120-240 ml). This is what gives the rice its color and some of its flavor. Sauté the rice, beans reserved chopped onion, sweet pepper and cilantro together in vegetable oil for a few minutes. Sprinkle with a little fresh chopped cilantro just before serving.
Once the rice and beans are cooked you can also refrigerate or freeze them. Make up small batches of Gallo Pinto when you want it by simply sautéing them together.
In Guanacaste they sometimes use small very hot red peppers instead of or in addition to the sweet. Some people add a tablespoon or so of salsa Lizano or Chilera to the beans while they're cooking. Our friend Mercedes always simmered the beans very slowly all-day and preheated the water or chicken broth for the rice.
Costa Rica, the lovely country in tropical central America. 19,652 miles of lush tropics that consist of one of the tourist spots of the century! Throughout this page, you will learn about the wonders of this ancient land and its culture, people, and beautiful beaches.
COUNTRY INFO
One of Costa Rica's most famous attractions is its beaches. Costa Rica goes from coast to coast so it therefore has 762 miles of beach! Although quality is more important that quantity. The beaches of Costa Rica for having crystal clear water and bleach white sand as well as the warm sun all year round. Due to it's geographical location, Costa Rica makes a great location to vacation all year round! Even in your not up for beaches, there is much more in Costa Rica than it's tropical perimeter. Let's head deeper inside.
Costa Rica also also has some of the most exotic jungles and river ways throughout its lush lands. Not only are these dense forests good for exploring, hiking, and even zip lining throughout the tress, they are also the home to many tropical animals. Hidden in this tropical world live about 800 species of birds including over 50 species of hummingbird. There are 4 species of monkey, and even some species of jaguar; not to mention a whole range of colorful frogs! If you are lucky, and with a knowledgeable guide, you could see animals that very few humans have ever seen.
CITIES & URBAN LIFE
Just in case you aren't up for the beaches or the dense jungles, Costa Rica has large cities in which to ramble the street and make friends with the friendly local people. When coming into the city, it will be helpful to have a little money. Costa Rica's currency is the colon. It's about 507 colon to every one U.S. Dollar. Also, when in Costa Rica there are certain things you might want to try. Do you ever wonder where you get you fruit during the winter time? The answer is often Costa Rica. When in Costa Rica, you should buy fresh coffee from locally grown coffee beans, recently picked bananas or some tropical pineapples. These are some of the best income suppliers for the country. Also, with a population of over 4,640,000, chances are you will make some friends in the local coffee shops, just make sure that you touch up on your Spanish. Although you may find English speakers, the majority of people speak Spanish. Also in the city, because the majority of Puerto Ricans are Roman Christian, there are beautiful churches and Cathedrals. Costa Rica is a presidential represented democratic republic. The current president is Laura Chinchilla Miranda. Maybe if your lucky in San Jose you might see here.
FOOD AND DINING
Costa Rican traditional foods include: Carne Asada, Arroz con Pollo, and casado, a typical dish made of chicken in sauce, next to rice, black or red beans, fried ripe plantain, salad, and mashed potatoes. This is a local recipe:Gallo Pinto
1 lb (450 gr.) Black beans. Fresh are best but most likely you’ll find them dried.8-10 sprigs cilantro (coriander leaf) fresh or frozen, not dried!
1 small or medium onion
½ small red or yellow sweet pepper (optional)
3 cups (700 ml) chicken broth or water
2 cups (350 ml) white rice
½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
1 Tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
1-3 Tablespoon oil to fry the Gallo Pinto
If beans are dried, cover with water and soak overnight, if they are fresh, just rise them off. Drain the beans and add fresh water to an inch (2.5-cm) above the top of the beans, salt, and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and reduce heat to very low simmer until beans are soft (~3 hours).
Chop cilantro, onion, and sweet pepper very fine.
Add 1 Tablespoon oil to a large pan and sauté the dry rice for 2 minutes over medium high flame then add half of the chopped onion, sweet pepper and cilantro and sauté another 2 minutes. Add water or chicken broth, bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer until rice is tender (20-35 minutes). This is also the recipe for Tico rice used in other favorites like tamales.
Once the rice and beans are cooked you can refrigerate or freeze them. Keep a significant amount of the “black water” with the beans (½-1 cup 120-240 ml). This is what gives the rice its color and some of its flavor. Sauté the rice, beans reserved chopped onion, sweet pepper and cilantro together in vegetable oil for a few minutes. Sprinkle with a little fresh chopped cilantro just before serving.
Once the rice and beans are cooked you can also refrigerate or freeze them. Make up small batches of Gallo Pinto when you want it by simply sautéing them together.
In Guanacaste they sometimes use small very hot red peppers instead of or in addition to the sweet. Some people add a tablespoon or so of salsa Lizano or Chilera to the beans while they're cooking. Our friend Mercedes always simmered the beans very slowly all-day and preheated the water or chicken broth for the rice.
ONE DAY IN COSTA RICA!
References:
http://www.rhinocarhire.com/images/CountryImages/400x500/Costa-Rica-Fountain.jpghttp://www.catravelservices.com/activities/info/Images/CostaRica-Culture-Food-GP.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica
http://www.tourism.co.cr/costa-rica-art-and-culture/costa-rica-food-and-cuisine/costa-rica-food.html
http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/paginas/home.asp?ididioma=2
http://www.fun-costa-rica-vacations.com/images/costa-rica-beach-caribbean.jpg
http://www.academia-columbus.com/gallery/costa_rica/9_fl_costa_rica.jpg
http://www.coztarica.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/costa-rica-playas.jpg
http://www.tierradesuenoslodge.com/images/photos/homepage/01a_costa_rica_beach.jpg
http://media.gapadventures.com/media-server/dynamic/admin/photos/CRCRD_banner_costa_rica_landscape_jungle_river.jpg
http://www.destination360.com/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-animals
http://www.naturetravelspecialists.com/images/costa%20rica/full/whitefacedcapuchinf.jpg
http://surfspots-gps.com/wp-content/uploads/tree-frog-costa-rica.jpg
http://www.grupocasaconde.com/shared/docs/6-default-activities-sanjose.jpg
http://www.expatify.com/files/2010/07/san.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Costa_Rica